Hello Frontier/CMDRs.
I recently got involved in Powerplay. I like the systems that are in place for earning merits and helping your power - undermining particularly appeals as it gives a non-pirate the chance to engage in some pirate-like activity.
But, while undermining in an enemy system I noticed that I was gaining merit points for blowing up ANY enemy faction ship, regardless of whether it was aligned to the governing faction or not. E.g. downing a Patreus aligned ship, and a wing of Torvalites that interdicted me in Alliance space got me 30 merits each, equal to the amount gained from catching the "target" Alliance Bureaucrats. A few things about this:
1) I like it! Defending yourself against enemy interdictions is more fun than shooting down toothless transport vessels. More of this please... but...
2) Despite liking it, it doesn't make sense that you'd be able to contribute to undermining a particular power by killing ships that, while hostile, are not actually aligned with the power in question. Killing Patreus sentinels in Alliance space wouldn't have any impact on the Alliance's development of the system; aren't they enemies too?
3) It made me think that what would be really great is if killing enemy aligned ships that attack you netted you some (small) merit incentive regardless of system. I get interdicted by enemies all the time, it's part of what I love about Powerplay - it has made space more dangerous and more characterful than with "random pirate" encounters, but as far as I can tell now you get no recognition from your power for doing so unless you're in a designated undermining system. If you're lucky you get a modest local bounty, but not always. Can we have, say, 5 - 10 merits for taking out enemies no matter where we are? Maybe scaled based on their ship?
I'm not about to say that all interactions in the game need a tangible incentive. I think a lot of it can be a joy regardless of the financial / social gain. I certainly started enjoying the game more once I stopped just grinding for credits and embraced the diversity... BUT having said that I do think incentives for activities could be balanced better, and having some small incentive to defend your turf, or hunt enemies (as they seem to hunt me) would be a very welcome addition.
Thanks! As always, I love your game, keep up the great work.
I recently got involved in Powerplay. I like the systems that are in place for earning merits and helping your power - undermining particularly appeals as it gives a non-pirate the chance to engage in some pirate-like activity.
But, while undermining in an enemy system I noticed that I was gaining merit points for blowing up ANY enemy faction ship, regardless of whether it was aligned to the governing faction or not. E.g. downing a Patreus aligned ship, and a wing of Torvalites that interdicted me in Alliance space got me 30 merits each, equal to the amount gained from catching the "target" Alliance Bureaucrats. A few things about this:
1) I like it! Defending yourself against enemy interdictions is more fun than shooting down toothless transport vessels. More of this please... but...
2) Despite liking it, it doesn't make sense that you'd be able to contribute to undermining a particular power by killing ships that, while hostile, are not actually aligned with the power in question. Killing Patreus sentinels in Alliance space wouldn't have any impact on the Alliance's development of the system; aren't they enemies too?
3) It made me think that what would be really great is if killing enemy aligned ships that attack you netted you some (small) merit incentive regardless of system. I get interdicted by enemies all the time, it's part of what I love about Powerplay - it has made space more dangerous and more characterful than with "random pirate" encounters, but as far as I can tell now you get no recognition from your power for doing so unless you're in a designated undermining system. If you're lucky you get a modest local bounty, but not always. Can we have, say, 5 - 10 merits for taking out enemies no matter where we are? Maybe scaled based on their ship?
I'm not about to say that all interactions in the game need a tangible incentive. I think a lot of it can be a joy regardless of the financial / social gain. I certainly started enjoying the game more once I stopped just grinding for credits and embraced the diversity... BUT having said that I do think incentives for activities could be balanced better, and having some small incentive to defend your turf, or hunt enemies (as they seem to hunt me) would be a very welcome addition.
Thanks! As always, I love your game, keep up the great work.